Cooler for a game head

ABSTRACT

The present invention generally relates to a cooler for transferring a game head. In one aspect, a game head transfer device is provided. The device includes a body having an opening on an upper portion that is configured to receive a game head into the body, wherein a first portion and a second portion of the game head extend from the opening of the body when the body is in an opened position and a closed position. The device further includes one or more flap members configured to narrow the opening of the body between the first portion and the second portion of the game head. The device also includes one or more closing members configured to narrow the opening of the body adjacent a side of the first portion and a side of the second portion of the game head that extend from the opening.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/324,717, filed Dec. 13, 2011, which claims benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/422,497, filed Dec. 13, 2010,the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a cooler. Moreparticularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to a coolerfor transferring a game head.

2. Description of the Related Art

During the hunting season, a hunter will hunt wild game animals, such asa buck. After the hunter has killed a wild game animal, the hunter maywant to transport the head (e.g., game head) of the wild game animalfrom the hunting location to a taxidermist in order to mount the gamehead. It is important to keep the game head cool and protect the gamehead during transport so that the game head will not get damaged. Thereis a need therefore for a method and an apparatus to cool and transportthe game head from the hunting location.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a cooler for transferring agame head. In one aspect, a game head transfer device is provided. Thegame head transfer device includes a body having an opening on an upperportion that is configured to receive a game head into the body, whereina first portion and a second portion of the game head extend from theopening of the body when the body is in an opened position and a closedposition. The game head transfer device further includes one or moreflap members configured to narrow the opening of the body between thefirst portion and the second portion of the game head that extend fromthe opening. The game head transfer device also includes one or moreclosing members configured to narrow the opening of the body adjacent aside of the first portion and a side of the second portion of the gamehead that extend from the opening.

In another aspect, a method of using a game head transfer device isprovided. The method includes the step of inserting a game head into anopening of the device, wherein a first portion and a second portion ofthe game head extend from the opening. The method further includes thestep of narrowing the opening of the device between the first portionand the second portion of the game head that extend from the opening.The method also includes the step of further narrowing the opening ofthe device adjacent a side of the first portion and a side of the secondportion of the game head that extend from the opening.

In yet another aspect, a cooler for a game head is provided. The coolerincludes an insulated body having a transport area that is configured toreceive a game head into the body such that a portion of the game headextends from an opening of the insulated body when the insulated body isclosed. The cooler further includes a first flap member and a secondflap member that are configured to close around the portion of the gamehead that extends from the opening. The cooler also includes a firstclosing member and a second closing member that are configured to narrowthe opening of the insulated body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above recited features of the presentinvention can be understood in detail, a more particular description ofthe invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference toembodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Itis to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate onlytypical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to beconsidered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to otherequally effective embodiments.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are views illustrating a game head transfer device.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the game head transfer device in an openposition.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the game head transfer device with a gamehead.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating the game head transfer device in a closedposition with the game head.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are other views illustrating the game head transfer devicein the closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention generally relates to a cooler for transferring agame head. The cooler will be described herein for the transfer of thegame head from a hunting location. It is to be understood, however, thatthe cooler may also be used for other purposes when the cooler is nottransporting the game head, such as cooling and transferring items, suchas food and drinks. To better understand the novelty of the cooler ofthe present invention and the methods of use thereof, reference ishereafter made to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are views illustrating a game head transfer device 100.Generally, the game head transfer device 100 is used to cool andtransfer a game head 150 (FIG. 4). The game head transfer device 100includes a front portion 105, side portions 110, a back portion 115, atop portion 120 and a closed bottom portion 125. The portions 105, 110,115, 120, 125 have waterproof surfaces and include insulation betweenthe surfaces. In one embodiment, the insulation in portions 105, 110,115, 120, 125 is made from foil bubble insulation, PET aluminum bubbleinsulation, aluminum foam insulation or any other insulation productsknown in the art. Further, the portions 105, 110, 115, 120, 125 are madefrom flexible material which allows the portions 105, 110, 115, 120, 125to conform to the items stored within the game head transfer device 100.The flexible material of the portions 105, 110, 115, 120, 125 alsoallows the game head transfer device 100 to collapse into a smallerconfiguration when the game head transfer device 100 is not in use. Inone embodiment, the bottom portion 125 includes reinforcement membersthat are configured to maintain the shape of the bottom portion 125 andsupport the game head 150. As shown, the side portions 110 of the gamehead transfer device 100 may include buckles 135 that are used to securethe game head transfer device 100 in a closed position. The frontportion 105 and the back portion 115 may include handles 190 for use incarrying the game head transfer device 100.

In one embodiment, the game head transfer device 100 may include anoptional side pocket 155 on the front portion 105 for storage. The sidepocket 155 may have a closing member, such as a zipper. There may be asimilar side pocket 155 on the back portion 115. An outside surface ofthe side pocket 155 may be used for attaching a logo, emblem or symbol.In one embodiment, the portions 105, 110, 115, 120, 125 are made from athermal material that changes color as the temperature changes withinthe game head transfer device 100. In one embodiment, an optionaltemperature gauge may be disposed within the front portion to indicatethe temperature within the game head transfer device 100.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the game head transfer device 100 in anopen position. The portions 105, 110, 115, 120, 125 define a body havinga transport area 130 that is configured to hold the game head 150 (orother items). As shown in FIG. 3, the transport area 130 has an initialpredefined shape, such as a square or a rectangle, but any geometricshape may be used without departing from principles of the presentinvention.

The top portion 120 includes a first side 160 and a second side 165.Each side 160, 165 includes a closing member 170, such as a zipper,which is used to close the transport area 130. Each side 160, 165further includes a closing flap 175 that extends from a point below theclosing member 170 to a point in the transport area 130. In theembodiment illustrated, the closing flap 175 extends substantially alongthe entire length of the respective side 160, 165. Generally, theclosing flaps 175 are used to seal or close the top portion 120 of thegame head transfer device 100 when the game head 150 is in the transportarea 130, as will be described herein.

The closing flaps 175 have a fixed end that is attached to the topportion 120 and a free end. The free end of the closing flaps 175 areconfigured to rotate around the fixed end to any number of positions.The free end of the closing flaps 175 include releasable connectionmembers 195 on an inner portion of the respective flap 175, such asVelcro, that is used to secure the free end of the closing flap 175 onthe first side 160 to the free end of the closing flap 175 on the secondside 165. In other words, the releasable connection members 195 areconfigured to mate with each other to seal or close the top portion 120of the game head transfer device 100 when the game head 150 is in thetransport area 130. As such, the closing flaps 175 provide a first meansfor closing or sealing around the game head 150, and the closing member170 provides a second means for closing or sealing around the game head150. In one embodiment, a connection member (not shown) may be disposedon the inner surface of the portions 105, 110, 115 that is configured toengage the releasable connection members 195 to secure the free end ofthe closing flaps 175 in place when the closing flaps 175 are not inuse. The connection members may be any type of connection member knownin the art, such as Velcro or clips. Although the game head transferdevice 100 in FIG. 3 shows two flaps 175, any number of flaps 175 may beused without departing from principles of the present invention. In oneembodiment, a single flap is used on the first side 160 that has a fixedend and a free end. The single flap has releasable connection members onan inner portion of the free end of the single flap that is configuredto engage releasable connection members on the second side 165.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the game head transfer device 100 with thegame head 150. In comparing FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the transport area 130has been reconfigured to accommodate the game head 150. The flexiblematerial of the portions 105, 110, 115, 120, 125 allow the transportarea 130 to conform to the game head 150. As shown in FIG. 4, a portion140 (e.g., antlers) of the game head 150 extends from the game headtransfer device 100. The portion 140 may include a first portion (e.g.,first antler) and a second portion (e.g., second antler). The closingflaps 175 and the closing members 170 are configured to allow theportion 140 of the game head 150 to protrude outside of the game headtransfer device 100, while at the same time closing the top portion 120to maintain a cool temperature within the game head transfer device 100.As shown, the closing flaps 175 close the top portion 120 to a point 145adjacent each outer side of the portion 140 of the game head 150extending outside of the game head transfer device 100. The closingflaps 175 may be configured to also close an area 185 between the firstportion and the second portion of the game head 150 extending outside ofthe game head transfer device 100 (FIG. 6). The closing flaps 175 arealso configured to stabilize (or hold) the game head 150 in a positionwithin the transport area 130. The flexibility of the arrangement of theclosing flaps 175 allows the game head transfer device 100 to be usedfor different sized game heads and/or antlers.

The game head transfer device 100 may also include a removable innerliner (not shown) that fits in the transport area 130. The inner linermay be made from a flexible material and the inner liner may be removedfrom the game head transfer device 100 for easy clean-up after usage.The game head transfer device 100 may also include pockets inside thetransport area 130 for cooling material such as ice.

FIGS. 5-7 are views illustrating the game head transfer device 100 in aclosed position. As shown, the closing members 170 have been closed to apoint 180 on each side of the portion 140 of the game head 150 thatprotrudes outside of the game head transfer device 100. The closingmembers 170 enclose the closing flaps 175 (and the point 145) to addadditional closure of the top portion 120 adjacent the sides of theportion 140. The closing members 170 also provide additional support tomaintaining the game head 150 within the transport area 130. As shown inFIG. 6, one closing member 170 is disposed on one side of the portion140 of the game head 150, and another closing member 170 is disposed onthe other side of the portion 140 of the game head 150. The closingmember 170 arrangement allows for both sides of the portion 140 of thegame head 150 to be closed. The flexibility of the arrangement of theclosing flaps 175 and the closing members 170 allows the game headtransfer device 100 to accommodate different sized game heads.

While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention,other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised withoutdeparting from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof isdetermined by the claims that follow.

1. A game head transfer device, comprising: a body having an openingformed across an upper portion of the body; a first zipper member thatcloses the opening from one end of the body; a second zipper member thatcloses the opening from an opposite end of the body; a flap member thatis coupled to the body on one side of the opening and has a releasableconnection member disposed on a free end of the flap member; and amating releasable connection member disposed on an opposite side of theopening, wherein the releasable connection member attaches to the matingreleasable connection member to close a portion of the opening withoutthe first zipper member and the second zipper member having to close thesame portion of the opening.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein at leastone of the first zipper member and the second zipper member isconfigured to close substantially the entire opening of the body.
 3. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the releasable connection member is disposedon an inner portion of the free end of the flap member.
 4. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the releasable connection member and the matingreleasable connection member are Velcro.
 5. The device of claim 1,wherein the flap member extends along substantially the entire length ofthe opening of the body.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the body hasa first shape when the body is empty and the body has a second shapewhen a game head is disposed in the body.
 7. The device of claim 1,wherein the flap member has a fixed end coupled to the body at a pointbelow the first zipper member.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein themating releasable connection member is disposed on a free end of asecond flap member that is coupled to the body on the opposite side ofthe opening.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the mating releasableconnection member is disposed on an inner portion of the free end of thesecond flap member.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the ends of thebody include a buckle to secure the device in a closed position.
 11. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the releasable connection member attaches tothe mating releasable connection member so that the flap member closesthe portion of the opening without the first and second zipper membersclosing any portion of the opening.
 12. A method of using a game headtransfer device, comprising: inserting a game head into an opening of abody of the game head transfer device such that a portion of the gamehead extends out of the opening, wherein the game head transfer devicehas a flap member that is coupled to the body on one side of the openingand has a releasable connection member disposed on a free end of theflap member; attaching the releasable connection member to a matingreleasable connection member disposed on an opposite side of the openingso that the flap member closes an area of the opening adjacent to theportion of the game head that extends out of the opening; closing theopening from one side of the body using a first zipper member withoutthe first zipper member closing the area of the opening that is closedby the flap member; and closing the opening from an opposite side of thebody using a second zipper member without the second zipper memberclosing the area of the opening that is closed by the flap member. 13.The method of claim 12, further comprising wherein at least one of thefirst zipper member and the second zipper member is configured to closesubstantially the entire opening of the body.
 14. The method of claim12, wherein the releasable connection member is disposed on an innerportion of the free end of the flap member.
 15. The method of claim 12,wherein the releasable connection member and the mating releasableconnection member are Velcro.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein thefirst member extends along substantially the entire length of theopening of the body.
 17. The method of claim 12, wherein the flap memberhas a fixed end coupled to the body at a point below the first zippermember.
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein the mating releasableconnection member is disposed on a free end of a second flap member thatis coupled to the body on the opposite side of the opening.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, wherein the mating releasable connection member isdisposed on an inner portion of the free end of the second flap member.20. The method of claim 12, wherein the releasable connection memberattaches to the mating releasable connection member so that the flapmember closes the opening without the first and second zipper membersclosing any portion of the opening.